Lake

Aquatic Illinois Pre-trip Activities

The Illinois-specific Aquatic Exotic Species Fact Cards can be used to support lessons in aquatics. They can also be used independently for students to learn more about these species and to encourage further research.

The Illinois-specific Aquatic Species Fact Cards can be used to support lessons in aquatics. They can also be used independently for students to learn more about these species and to encourage further research.

Students will: 1) be able to identify exotic species and ways they are transported; 2) learn about several exotics that affect aquatic habitats; 3) identify effects of exotic species on native animals; and 4) learn how people can stop the spread of exotic species.

The Illinois-specific Aquatic Exotic Species Fact Cards can be used to support lessons in aquatics. They can also be used independently for students to learn more about these species and to encourage further research.

Students create a flyer about aquatic invasive species for distribution at local supermarkets. The focus on an environmental concern gives students the opportunity to experience a community action and awareness campaign.

The Illinois-specific Illinois Rivers and Lakes Fact Sheets can be used to support lessons in aquatics. They can also be used independently for students to learn more about these water bodies and to encourage further research.

Students will: 1) understand that changes occur in waterfowl population numbers; and 2) comprehend how an environmental contaminant, lead shot, may have contributed to a decline in waterfowl population numbers.

Students will be able to: 1) identify and describe the advantages of adaptations to an aquatic environment; 2) evaluate the importance of adaptations to a variety of organisms; and 3) describe some environmental conditions that may result in adaptations.

This activity presents real-life choices involving exotic species found in the Great Lakes, such as zebra mussels and purple loosestrife. Students are to analyze a situation related to ecology and make an environmentally sound decision. Students then organize what they learned into a concept map.

This activity presents real-life choices involving exotic species found in the Great Lakes, such as zebra mussels and purple loosestrife. Students are to analyze a situation related to ecology and make an environmentally sound decision. Students then organize what they learned into a concept map.

Students will: 1) learn why locks and dams are built and how they work; 2) understand why locks, dams and barges are vital to river trade and navigation; 3) realize some of the environmental impacts of the locks, dams and barges in the Great Rivers region; and 4) improve mapping skills.

Students will: 1) realize the economic impact of travel on the local community; 2) perform mapping skills; 3) understand how the Great Rivers are related to travel; and 4) determine how the Great Rivers influence the surrounding communities.

Students will: 1) become familiar with watersheds and the importance of water quality; and 2) be able to determine which watershed they live in and what bodies of water originate or feed into that watershed.

Wild Math: How Many Fish are in this Lake? Instructional Video Podcast

The podcast provides step-by-step instructions for completing the calculations in this activity in which students use a real-life example to explore the reasons that fishes are stocked in lakes and ponds. Students are also posed questions on the topic.

Wild Math: How Many Fish are in this Lake? Video Podcast Discussion Answers

This Web page provides answers to the discussion questions posed in the video podcast for this activity in which students use a real-life example to explore the reasons that fishes are stocked in lakes and ponds.